Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Ruhollah Shoara, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur, Alireza Ashraf, Alireza Salehi, Shadab Dehshahri, Zahra Habibagahi

Journal: Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2016;21(3):181-7

PMID: 26256137

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) oil in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHOD

Patients were randomized and treated with topical chamomile oil, diclofenac or placebo, 3 times/day for 3 weeks. They were allowed to use acetaminophen as analgesic. The patients were asked about their total acetaminophen use. Moreover, they were assessed in the terms of pain, physical function and stiffness by using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire at the enrolling and weekly.

RESULTS

Chamomile oil significantly reduced the patients' need for acetaminophen (P = 0.001) compared with diclofenac and placebo. However, there were no significant differences in WOMAC questionnaire domains. The patients did not report any adverse events by using chamomile oil.

CONCLUSION

Chamomile oil decreased the analgesic demand of patients with knee osteoarthritis. In addition, it may show some beneficial effects on physical function, and stiffness of the patients.

Address: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.; Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.; Shiraz Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].; Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.; Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.06.003

Link outs

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Matricaria, Medicine, Traditional, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Pain, Plant Oils